Object-based selection within an analog VLSI visual attention system

An object-based analog very large-scale integration (VLSI) model of selecti ve attentional processing has been implemented using a standard 2.0-mu m CM OS process. This chip extends previous work on modeling a saliency-map-base d selection and scanning mechanism to incorporate the ability to group pixe ls into objects. This grouping, or segmentation, couples the circuitry of t he object's pixels to act as a single, larger pixel. The grouping of pixels is dynamic, driven solely by the segmentation criterion at the input. In t his demonstration circuit, image intensity has been chosen for the input sa liency map and the segmentation is based on spatial low-pass filtering foll owed by an intensity threshold. We present experimental results from a one- dimensional implementation of the object-based analog VLSI selective-attent ion system.